Law Enforcement Fatalities Decrease

In a reversal of recent trends, law enforcement fatalities declined significantly nationwide during the first half of 2012, reaching a 52-year low.

Fifty-three law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the first six months of this year, according to figures from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and the Concerns of Police Survivors. This represents a 44% decrease over the 94 officers who died during the same time period last year.

Of the 53 officers who died:

• Twenty-one officers were killed in traffic related incidents, a 36% decrease during the period. This includes 17 who died in automobile accidents, three who were struck by automobiles while outside of their own vehicles, and one officer who died in a motorcycle crash.
• Nineteen were shot to death, a 50% decrease from the same time period last year.
• Thirteen officers died due to causes other than traffic or firearms-related incidents, a 38% decrease. This includes seven officers who died due to physical-related illnesses, three who were stabbed, and three who died in falls.
• Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas were the deadliest states in the nation thus far in 2012 with three fatalities each. Eight states (Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, and Utah) each lost two officers during the same period.
• The average age of the officers who died was 43. On average, they served for 12 years and eight of the officers who died were women.

Complete data